27.9.17

Captain Bayley's Heir Audio Dramatization

With our internet out at home and our favorite radio station fading in and out lately in our van, we have been listening to even more CDs than usual. We enjoy music, but audio dramas are even better for long rides.

Heirloom Audio has turned another of G.A. Henty's timeless historical stories into one of their extraordinary audio adventures. Bill Heid, the Executive Producer of Heirloom Audio, shared his vision for the company, their mission, and their hope to ignite a passion for history and Christian character in the next generation.

"Our mission, simply stated, is to engage our listeners' imagination by taking them back in time and immersing them in a great Christian story."

This story took us a little longer to get into initially than other family favorites from Heirloom Audio. One of the early main character's accent reminded me of Jed Clampit on The Beverly Hillbillies. "She's uh Chrastian girl and I ain't." Once we got past alternately cringing or laughing out loud each time we heard that character speak and settled into the story, we enjoyed it more and more. The first time we listened, even after arriving back home, we sat in the driveway listening, not wanting to stop it and go inside our house before hearing the conclusion of this 2 1/2 hour "non-stop adventure."

Like other audio dramas from Heirloom Audio, Captain Bayley's Heir features major actors and actresses as the characters. The realistic sound effects add depth to the story such as the lovely violin music which accompanied the mention of one of the characters playing the violin. The surround-sound effects are amazingly! As you listen to the story unfold, you can imagine it happening around you because of the rich sounds.

This is a story of strong character. How you interpret situations can impact the lives of individuals much more than you may know. In this dramatic story, a false accusation takes place at an English boys school. The crime and punishment overshadows every area of young Frank's life, and he runs far away from all he has ever known. The story follows his journey to America and tells how his strength of character and physical strength grow. "Most importantly, he encounters the power of God's grace." The background of the story changes drastically from adventurous sea travel to the California gold rush.

In the beginning of the story, the violin music sounds like a somewhat new student still learning to play. At the end, Amazing Grace is played on the violin as other characters sing along. This was my favorite part as my daughters who both play the violin used to play their music for my grandparents after each lesson. One of the repeated requests was Amazing Grace which my Grandfather would accompany with his harmonica. This audio drama is a story of amazing grace.

My daughter said this story is a little different than the others were, in her opinion. Other Heirloom Audio Productions that we have enjoyed include:

Heirloom Audio has changed their online features. Instead of sharing a link to the poster and study guide corresponding to the story, they now have a club with special links for members only. We received a log in code in the mail with our CD. Special bonus features available n the club include a study guide which can be viewed online or downloaded, kids activities, educational tools, inspiration, and more. A digital download of both the book and audio book are also available to download. The 38 page study guide is full color, and I loved reading that it was dedicated to Ronald Reagan.

You can also find historical articles, unusual recipes, and fun activities related to each of their audio dramas if you sign up for their newsletter.